As concerns grow worldwide over a mutated coronavirus strain, several countries are deciding to close their borders to investigate spreads.
Several countries have decided to close their borders and suspend commercial flights to investigate the spread of a new coronavirus strain first discovered in the United Kingdom.
The identification of the infectious pressure has caused chaos around the world, with many European and other countries closing travel links with the UK and disrupting trade ahead of the Christmas holidays.
Around 20 countries – including Turkey, Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Belgium, Ireland and Canada – have banned UK flights and are expected to more countries will follow the same.
The following is a list of countries closing their borders over the new COVID-19 snort:
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia suspended international commercial flights for a refreshed week although foreign flights in the country could already leave, the interior ministry said Monday. The Gulf state closed its land and sea borders on Sunday.
The measures do not apply to the movement of goods from countries where the new COVID-19 snort did not appear, a ministerial statement held on the state news agency SPA said.
Kuwait
Neighbor Kuwait will suspend all trade missions and close its land and sea borders from 11pm local time (20:00 GMT) Monday through January 1, the government communications office said. Cargo activity will continue, he said.
Kuwait on Sunday recorded a total of 147,979 coronavirus cases, including 921 deaths and 143,926 recoveries.
Oman
Oman will close its land, air and sea borders for a week beginning Tuesday, state television said.
The decision will take effect starting at 1am local time on Tuesday morning (23:00 GMT on Monday night).
On Monday, Oman recorded a total of 127,931 coronavirus cases, including 1,489 deaths and 119,745 recoveries.
Israel
At the same time, the Israeli government has decided that only Israeli citizens and foreigners with special permits, such as diplomatic, can enter the country.
They have to separate themselves at home unless they are traveling from the UK, South Africa or Denmark, in which case they have to stay in specially designated quarantine hotels.
From Wednesday at 2pm local time (12:00 GMT), all incoming passengers must quarantine for 10-14 days in the hotels. The new rules will initially apply for 10 days, with the possibility of extension.
Spain
Spain will ban all UK travelers, except Spanish nationals and residents, from entering the country from Tuesday, the Spanish government said on Monday.
Controls at the border with Gibraltar, where at least one case of the new COVID-19 variant was discovered, will be put in place, the government said in a statement.
They said the ban on entry for non-residents was coordinated by nearby Portugal, which announced its decision late Sunday.